Why these three words paint a holistic portrait of who I am and what I represent

​While my true name may be anonymous the title of my blog paints a complete picture of who I am and what I represent.  I personally never knew if I had a true identity and characteristics that made me stand out.  Some people are extremely charismatic, some people are great athletes, some people have a personal style that is unforgettable but I don’t think, until recently, I really ever knew what made me the individual I am today.  That is where this blog, Vegan Sports Dad, came into focus for me.  Initially I didn’t exactly know what to call my blog and while I had started a few before I always tried to have catchy and flashy names so I wanted this blog to be about me.  Who was I though? I was always a little confused what my true identity was as well as what passions truly drove me but it seemed that all I had to do was look in the mirror and see what defined me and made me the person I am today so let’s take a closer look and give you all an idea of why I chose this name and who I am.

Vegan –There are obviously numerous reasons for becoming a vegan but what I normally tell people is that coming from a family who has a history of high blood pressure and cholesterol and showing signs of this same trend in my 20s and 30s today my vitals have never been better.  Not only that but I am stronger and more muscular at age 40 than I have been since the days of high school and I just overall feel better.  My complexion is great, my joints don’t hurt as much, I don’t get sick as frequently and overall I just feel better about myself.  ​​I was always interested in being a vegetarian or at least testing the waters but more so just as a way to lose weight, you know to see how it is and maybe lose some lbs then move on.  Like everyone else I thought being a “veggie” meant eating salads for lunch and dinner and was always told that you had to eat meat to get your protein and drink milk for stronger bones!  What a bunch of bullsh*t.  We are brain washed from an early age by big money corporate America to believe that.  That is beside the point but what I didn’t know was the diverse universe of foods and brands and substitutes available to people that allow them to move away from the meat obsessed society we live in today.  That universe continues to grow every day and as the benefits of not eating meat and drinking dairy continue to infiltrate popular opinion the education of the global community on what foods to eat and how to eat them only fuels those options.  Don’t get me wrong I try not to tell anyone how to live and I respect everyone’s individual opinion but for me the proof is right in front of me and no matter what anyone else says I am living and breathing proof of the benefits.
​I think as man in today’s world there is a lot of pressure to be that strong, steak eating, scotch drinking, macho man society has attempted to mold us into and I’m not going to lie I was always reluctant to come out and tell people that I was a vegan.  I don’t know if I was embarrassed or if I thought people would think differently of me but until recently I tried to hide it.  I think what helps these days is the amount of options I just touched on.  There are vegan options for everything, literally everything.  Not only that but having a child has helped me realize even more so the importance of living a clean, healthy, safe lifestyle so I can be there for them as long as I possibly can and that’s all the reason a parent needs right?

Sports – Like the majority of men sports have always played a major role in my life whether that is by playing, following, or pretending during fantasy sports they have always been a constant part of my life.  To be honest I am a very laid back and even keeled person but I would find myself, for better or for worse, having high highs and low lows simply by the outcome of sporting events.  At times over my life I attempted to turn this feeling away and always told myself “there are more important things in life” which I still agree with today but the older I get I realize that I am truly passionate about the teams and players I love and there is nothing I can do about that.  There were even periods of life when I tried to force myself to read and research more conversational or “intellectual” (according to some) topics such as politics and global issues and while I casually follow both nothing has ever kept my attention and my interest as much as the sports world.  Besides why would anyone ever try and suppress a passion?  The things that get your blood going and make you feel alive are the things that you should always include in your life.  As such I have embraced these feelings and by one shape or another I continue to make sports a part of my life.  I hope that my daughter will also share this passion and I look forward to the day I am driving her all around town to various games and events.  I am a big believer in the benefits playing team sports have on kids over the course of their life.

​Dad – This part of my name is by far and away the most important.  While some of it is new to me, being a husband and father is obviously the biggest responsibility a man can have.  I have a beautiful wife, a beautiful 1 year old daughter, and a big and beautiful labradoodle.  All of which I love unconditionally and all of which I try and give every single piece of me each and every day.  The joy I get coming home to a house full of people I love and that love me is a feeling I cherish and will cherish to the day I die. It’s funny how all the things you wondered about your parents and the things they did and said all come true when you become a parent yourself right?  I continuously find myself saying “wow, now I get it”.  I personally find it incredibly important to be part of every aspect of your kids life from changing their diapers, to feeding them a bottle, to playing with dolls I don’t care what it is (until she’s a teenager and I need to look out for boys, ha!) I want to be there for her and support her and tell her how amazing she is every step of her life.

​So there it is, these are some of the reasons I chose the name I did and while my real name is not given I have chosen a name that represents a holistic view of what makes me go each and every day…Although I left out coffee and that is also a huge part of my life and what keeps me going!